AN IMPERIAL NOTE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 105, 11 August 1910, Page 7

AN IMPERIAL NOTE.

SOUNDED BY THE GOVERNOR. A strong Imperialistic note was sounded by his Excellency the Governor in his reply to his toast at the Mayoral luncheon at Christchurch on Saturday. The Governorship of an autonomous dominion like New Zealand, said he, required very careful treatment. There were certain matters which a Governor should •bef very careful not to encroach upon, and he hoped that during his term of office.he would not do so, but at the same time there were outside, of the legislative, and Parliamentary work a lot of matters appertaining to the relief of the Dominion into which the Governor could throw himself whole-heartedly (Applause). He referred to those subjects outside of all legislative enactments —initiative of private welfare and enterprise, which went to make the prosperity of the Dominion. There were many branches of this work, branches which did not encroach on the Parliamentary aspect, and during the time he was Governor he would dp his best'to encourage them for the welfare of the Dominion. One phase was Imperialistic. They in New Zealand had proved themselves to be responsive to Imperial connection second to none in the Empire. He had been reading the other day that during

the South African war they had, according to the percentage of the population, sent as many troops to the front as the Mother Country, and more men than any of the other self-governing Dominions of the Empire. They had also proportionately contributed a, .larger fund* towards the expenses of the war man any of the other Dominions. Therefore, when he said they had Imperial interests, they had proved it in the past. As time went on, the question of Imperial necessity must become more and more important, not only to the Mother Country, but to the other component parts of the Empire as well. As it became more necessary for the self-governing dominions of the Empire to discuss external I questions as well as internal, Imperial unity became more and more important. In the past they had had established upon sentiment mutual relationship between those in the Dominion and those lin the Mother, Country. Relationship was'a strong and abiding sentiment and the basis of Imperial unity might require * a more practical form. • It required to he carefully watched both by people at | Home and by people in the Dominions. j He thought 'it part of his duty, as Governor, to watch these developments, and I he would,- and to bring these bonds [' closer together would be not only his ■ pleasure, but also his duty. ('Hear, hear).